X-ray photoelectron study of the interaction of the uranyl group UO22+ with hydroxylapatite and fluoroapatite in aqueous solutions

The interaction of the uranyl group UO22+ in aqueous solutions with hydroxylapatite and fluoroapatite was studied by X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The apatite samples under study were found to contain CO32- groups. The reaction of uranyl nitrate with hydroxylapatite in aqueous solutions does not lend to U(IV)-containing compounds but forms U(VI)-containing uranyl compounds with equatorial hydroxyl or carbonate groups partly replaced by fluorine in the uranyl compounds in the case of fluoroapatite.. The interaction of the uranyl group with fluoroapatite in aqueous solutions is much more effective than the interaction with hydroxylapatite.